Investigation of Changes in the Green and Blue Water Footprint of Wheat in Drought and Rainy Seasons (A Case Study on Wheat under the Dez Irrigation Network, Southwestern Iran)

Water resource management in agriculture, especially in arid and semi-arid regions, is a major global challenge. This study examines the impact of drought and wet periods on the blue water footprint (WFblue) and green water footprint (WFgreen) of wheat within the Dez irrigation network in Southwest Iran (۱۹۹۳–۲۰۲۳). The objective is to analyze variations in the water footprint using ۳۰ years of meteorological data, wheat yield, and water input to the Dez network. Data were evaluated through WFblue/WFgreen models and ANOVA Results show that severe drought significantly increases WFblue by approximately ۱۲۱.۰۷% (۳۷۵.۲۰ m۳ton-۱) compared to the normal condition (۱۶۹.۵۹ m۳ton-۱), while reducing WFgreen, exerting substantial stress on groundwater and surface water resources. Variance analysis indicates that drought indices (RDI, SPI) significantly affect water resources, with SPI as the primary driver of variability. This study builds on Hoekstra’s water footprint theory by integrating adaptive management strategies for drought and wet periods, emphasizing temporal variations in water use. The findings highlight the urgent need for smart water management and advanced meteorological forecasting to guide policies that mitigate drought impacts and enhance water-use efficiency.

کلیدواژه ها:

Blue water footprint ، Green water footprint ، Drought indices ، water resource management